SOWDEN PL1 Portable Lamp
SOWDEN PL1 Portable Lamp
The latest from SOWDEN, the brand of George Sowden, one of the founding members of Memphis, is the PL1 Portable Lamp, a small rechargeable lamp composed of a painted aluminium stand and a shade made from silicone—a material that George Sowden discovered is a great diffuser of light, long-lasting and easy to clean. The light has a continuous dimmer setting, controlled by pressing lightly the top of the lamp. The shade is also removable for easy cleaning. Charges via USB, with cable included, for
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DesignerGeorge Sowden
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Size9.75h x 5"diam.
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MaterialABS, Aluminum, Silicone
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Year of Design2021
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OriginChina
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“When I was developing prototypes for my new lighting designs, I used silicone for the shade, because it was a quick and inexpensive way to do it,” explains Sowden. “That’s when I discovered that silicone has an extraordinary quality of light diffusion.”
“Memphis was pre-computers. It was basically very traditional woodworking. It’s extraordinary what can be done now with digital technology and electronic management of information—but it hasn’t changed the way I feel about designing, only how I do it.”
“When I design, I put everything on the table. And then I shuffle the cards and do it again. In fact, I’ve always liked working as fast as I can, doing lots of different things—spotting and taking advantage of the possibilities that come out by playing about.”
George Sowden has been designing objects that improve the functions of everyday life for nearly 50 years. Because of their interesting shapes and distinct color palettes, these designs also seem to double as sculptures. He has conceived products for the Danish brand HAY and also his own company, SOWDEN, such as his recent lighting collection. In the 1970s he moved from the UK to Milan where he worked with Italian design icons such as Olivetti and Ettore Sottsass. Sowden was a founding member of the Memphis Group where he created designs that challenged the standard notions of objects and function.
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